How to Teach a Pet Opossum Tricks

Like many pets opossums can be taught to do tricks by there owners. Opossums will naturally do certain tricks like hanging from a tree branch by there tails. Opossums can be trained easily with rewards and vocal commands. Teaching a pet opossum tricks can be fun and entertaining for both the trainer and the opossum.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Snacks and food

1. Start opening the cage and put your hand inside with a small treat or piece of food. Say the word come each time to put your hand in to get the opossum used to that word. The opossum will run at your hand making it easier to get them out. This will also teach the opossum to eat from your hand witch is essential in the training progress. Once the opossum has learned this you will be able to put your hand at eye level with the opossum in or out of the cage and say come and it will come to you.
2. Place the opossum on the floor then hold a snack or food above his head. Say a word like stand or reach each time. Say the same word every time. The opossum will stand on his hind legs to get the food from your hand. This is a basic trick but will with many other tricks. You may have to do this several times to get the opossum to do it when asked.
3. Get your opossum to jump. Hold a snack above the opossums head to where they will have to jump to get it. Do not hold it to high just enough so he/she can bounce and reach it. Say the word jump. When the opossum does the trick give them the snack and a pat on the head.
4. Hold a hula hoop or a broom on the floor. Place the opossum on the other side and hold a snack on the opposite side then call the opossum. The opossum will hop over the broom or hula hoop to get to the snack. Over time raise the broom or hula hoop off the ground little by little. Give them a treat every time they jump.
5. Get your opossum to stand up with a snack in your hand. Move the snack around in circles. The opossum will follow the snack and turn around to get the snack.

Tips & Warnings

• If at any time your opossum becomes frustrated or begins to sway back and forth like they are confused stop and take a break.
• To teach your opossum more tricks simply play with them and they will begin to create their own tricks and funny habits.